One of the most helpless feelings I’ve ever felt was while sitting in a vehicle that had gone out of control. There was really nothing I could do but hope that I’d be able to walk away unharmed. Often while driving on the highway I see motorists towing trailers well over the speed limit for vehicles towing a trailer. Unfortunately, anyone with a valid driver’s license can legally tow most trailers. This is evident each spring when boat ramps are held up by those who haven’t learned how to back up their new trailer. They can surely drive forward at breakneck speeds but have yet to learn how to back up a trailer. They may have practiced a few times in an empty parking lot or watched a few YouTube videos but it’s completely different when there are other trailers around you, people, other boats, as well as other unforeseen challenges. Towing a trailer takes time and lots of practice. I spent numerous hours in parking lots learning how to back up a trailer before I ever was allowed to drive on the main roads. Even then, my dad was right there in the passenger seat correcting my every move. After recently spending 11 hours driving back from Arizona and seeing numerous vehicles breaking the law while towing, I’m all for a secondary license being required for those towing trailers of any size. Lowering the speed limit for vehicles towing trailers is not enough; nobody I saw was going 55mph.

Delta Report:

Anglers are struggling to find fish as the water has muddied up in a lot of places and the water temperature has also dropped into the forties. For largemouth bass try tossing a chrome and blue rattle trap or flipping a jig. This time of year bass can be found out of current in or around the many deep holes that can be found throughout many sloughs. Once finding these deep holes try working a drop shot rig or jig slowly through the area. Striper fishing has been very tough for anglers as there is very little activity to be found around these areas of the delta. Most striper reports are coming from the Rio Vista area.

Lake New Melones:

Trout continue to bite for a lot of anglers who are fishing off the bank. Anglers are fishing around Glory Hole Cove and catching trout up to two pounds. Currently the hot bait has been Power Bait. Trollers are catching fish up shallow but of the smaller size giving bank anglers the advantage. Bass fishing remains consistent as the bass have moved deeper. For numbers try targeting points and backs of creeks with soft plastics and jigs. Because of the rise in water level, water clarity has been a factor as anglers have had to change the color of their bait in order to make them more visible.

Lake Don Pedro:

The trout bite is good right now for anglers fishing from the surface down to 25 feet deep. Anglers targeting the bigger fish that are combing the bank are using side planers and trolling a variety of shad imitating lures. Bass fishing has slowed right now as anglers are struggling to find a consistent bite anywhere on the lake. There have been a few anglers that have been able to catch fish on spoons while searching for schooling fish.

Lake Amador:

Heavy loads of trout are being planted into the lake right now on what seems like a daily basis. Anglers fishing off the bank are getting their money’s worth in most cases. Power bait has been the ticket either fished off the bottom or beneath a bobber.

Lake Camanche:

Trout fishing is great right now on the lake despite the weather. Anglers are catching them while fishing with power bait just about everywhere on the lake. The ponds have also been stocked with trout.

Tip of the Week:

You can often tell what a fish has been feeding on by the sharpness of their teeth. A bass that has feeding on crawdads teeth are most likely to be worn down and easily held by the lower jaw. A bass that has been feeding on shad often has razor sharp teeth which can be felt immediately when trying to grab the fish by the lip.